US 12268475

US patent 12268475, titled "Wearable device for differential measurement on pulse rate and blood flow," was granted to Omni Medsci Inc. The inventor is Mohammed N. Islam. The application was filed on October 25, 2024, and the patent was issued on April 8, 2025.

The abstract describes a wearable device featuring one or more biosensors for measuring physiological parameters, specifically pulse rate and blood flow, using a differential measurement technique. The device includes a light source with multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) generating output optical light with one or more wavelengths. Lenses direct this light to tissue (e.g., skin), and a detection system receives the reflected light to generate an output signal indicative of the physiological parameters. This detection system is synchronized with the light source and comprises spatially separated detectors and at least one analog-to-digital converter. The device enhances the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by increasing the light intensity of at least one LED and by comparing signals received when the LEDs are off (ambient light) versus when they are on. The apparatus is also configured to determine if it is being worn by the user based on the output signal.

Independent Claim Overview

US patent 12268475 contains one independent claim:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a wearable apparatus designed to be worn by a user. It includes one or more biosensors that measure physiological parameters, specifically involving a differential measurement for pulse rate and blood flow. The apparatus has a light source made of multiple LEDs producing light of various wavelengths. Lenses are used to focus this light onto the user's skin. A detection system then receives the light reflected from the tissue and generates a signal related to the physiological parameters, aiming for a high signal-to-noise ratio. This detection system is synchronized with the light source, uses multiple spatially separated detectors, and includes at least one analog-to-digital converter. The apparatus improves the signal-to-noise ratio by increasing the LED light intensity. Additionally, the detection system achieves a higher signal-to-noise ratio by comparing measurements taken when the LEDs are off (ambient light) with those taken when the LEDs are on. Finally, the apparatus can determine if it is being worn by the user based on these signals.

Uncertainty Note: The provided context does not include results from a live USPTO database search for specific legal status or full CAFC 2026 dockets beyond what is already mentioned in the Google Patents listing, such as current active status and pending PTAB and district court cases. Therefore, this summary relies on the information available in the provided patent text.

The provided patent text includes several "Definitions" that describe "a wearable device" and "a system" in a claim-like structure. These are descriptions of aspects of the invention, but they are not presented as formal independent claims within a "Claims" section. Therefore, I will only provide an overview of the single independent claim found in the numbered "Claims" section of the patent.

Based on the patent text provided, the details for US12268475 are as follows:

• Title: Wearable device for differential measurement on pulse rate and blood flow
• Assignee: Omni Medsci Inc
• Inventors: Mohammed N. Islam
• Filing Date: 2024-10-25
• Issue Date: 2025-04-08
• Abstract: A wearable device adapted to be worn by a user is disclosed. The apparatus comprises one or more biosensors adapted to be placed on the user, wherein one or more physiological parameters are measured, wherein measuring of the one or more physiological parameters comprises a differential measurement, and wherein the one or more physiological parameters comprises a pulse rate monitoring and a blood flow measurement. The apparatus also comprises a light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes that are configured to generate an output optical light having one or more optical wavelengths. The apparatus also comprises one or more lenses configured to receive at least a portion of the output optical light and to deliver a lens output light to tissue comprising skin. The apparatus further comprises a detection system configured to receive at least a portion of the lens output light reflected from the tissue and to generate an output signal is indicative of the one or more physiological parameters that has a signal-to-noise ratio. The detection system is configured to be synchronized to the light source, comprises a plurality of detectors that are spatially separated from each other, and at least one analog to digital converter is coupled to at least one of the plurality of detectors. The apparatus is configured to increase the signal-to-noise ratio by increasing light intensity of at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes from an initial light intensity. The detection system further configured to generate a first signal responsive to light received while the light emitting diodes are off, generate a second signal responsive to light received while at least one of the light emitting diodes is on, and increase the signal-to-noise ratio by comparing the first signal and the second signal. The apparatus is at least in part configured to determine, based at least in part on the output signal, that the apparatus is being worn by the user.

Plain-Language Overview of Each Independent Claim:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a wearable device designed to be worn by a person. It includes biosensors that measure health indicators like pulse rate and blood flow, using a method that takes a differential measurement. The device has a light source made of several LEDs that produce light of different colors. Lenses are used to focus this light onto the user's body tissue, such as skin. A detection system then receives the light that bounces back from the tissue and creates a signal indicating the health measurements, aiming for a clear signal with minimal noise. This detection system works in sync with the light source and uses several detectors that are spaced apart, each connected to an analog-to-digital converter. To make the signal clearer, the device can increase the brightness of the LEDs. Furthermore, it improves signal clarity by comparing readings taken when the LEDs are off (measuring only ambient light) with readings taken when the LEDs are on. The device can also tell if it is currently being worn by the user based on these measurements.

Note on Litigation:
The Google Patents link for US12268475 shows that the patent is currently "Active" and has "Family litigation". Specifically, it notes:

• Critical: First worldwide family litigation filed.
• PTAB case PGR2025-00063 filed (Not Instituted - Procedural).
• PTAB case IPR2025-01254 filed (Pending - Instituted).
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:26-cv-00289).
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:25-cv-00483).
• US case filed in Delaware District Court (case 1:25-cv-00140).

As of April 26, 2026, the CAFC dockets found in the search results did not specifically mention patent 12268475. The results for CAFC cases in 2026 mention other patent numbers and general patent infringement types. The USPTO search results primarily provided general information about the USPTO itself, how to search patents, and recent news, but not specific status updates for patent 12268475 beyond what was in the Google Patents listing.

As of April 26, 2026, the following litigation is known for US patent 12268475:

• PTAB case PGR2025-00063

  • Status: Not Instituted - Procedural
  • Filing Date: Not specified in the provided text.
  • Petitioner: Not specified in the provided text.
  • Opponent/Patent Owner: Not specified in the provided text.
  • Jurisdiction: PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board)

• PTAB case IPR2025-01254

  • Status: Pending - Instituted
  • Filing Date: Not specified in the provided text.
  • Petitioner: Not specified in the provided text.
  • Opponent/Patent Owner: Not specified in the provided text.
  • Jurisdiction: PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board)

• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 2:26-cv-00289
  • Filing Date: Not specified in the provided text.
  • Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided text.
  • Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided text.
  • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court

• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00483
  • Filing Date: Not specified in the provided text.
  • Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided text.
  • Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided text.
  • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court

• US case filed in Delaware District Court

  • Case Number: 1:25-cv-00140
  • Filing Date: Not specified in the provided text.
  • Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided text.
  • Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided text.
  • Jurisdiction: Delaware District Court

Proceedings overview

Two AIA trial proceedings have been filed against US Patent 12268475. One Post-Grant Review (PGR) was denied institution, while one Inter Partes Review (IPR) was instituted and is currently in trial. This gives a defendant a mixed defensive posture: the patent has successfully resisted one challenge, but another is actively proceeding and could potentially invalidate claims.

PGR2025-00063 — SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. et al. v. Omni Medsci Inc

• Type: Post-Grant Review
• Filed: 2025-08-05
• Status: Discretionary Denial — the petition was denied institution, meaning the PTAB decided not to proceed with a full review.
• Judge panel: Not publicly available due to discretionary denial at this stage.
• Petition grounds: Information about the specific claims and prior art challenged, and the statutory basis (e.g., § 102, § 103, § 112) is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippet. However, PGRs can challenge a patent on any ground of patentability under §§ 101, 102, 103, or 112 (except best mode) based on prior art or other grounds. To find the specific grounds, one would typically review the petition and institution decision.
• Institution decision: Denied (Discretionary Denial) — 2026-04-10. The specific reasoning for the discretionary denial is not provided in the prompt's structured data. Discretionary denials often occur for reasons such as parallel litigation, petition deficiencies, or the "skip rule" in certain circumstances.
• Final Written Decision: Not issued, as institution was denied.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable, as the petition was denied institution.
• Appeal: No appeal possible, as no final decision on the merits was issued.
• Defensive value: The patent owner successfully defended against this PGR challenge, meaning no claims were invalidated. For a potential defendant, this indicates that the grounds raised in this particular PGR were not sufficient (or the PTAB exercised discretion) to warrant a full review. An IPR-based defense using similar arguments would need careful re-evaluation.

IPR2025-01254 — SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. et al. v. Omni Medsci Inc

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-08-05
• Status: Trial Instituted — the PTAB has authorized a full review of the challenged claims.
• Judge panel: Not publicly available yet. The panel is typically named in the institution decision.
• Petition grounds: Similar to the PGR, the specific claims and prior art challenged under § 102 and/or § 103 (the only grounds available for IPRs) are not detailed in the provided snippet. A review of the petition and institution decision would reveal these specifics.
• Institution decision: Instituted. The date of institution is not explicitly stated but is implicitly after the filing date and before the last modified date of 2026-05-20. The panel's reasoning would be detailed in the institution decision, outlining which claims were found to have a reasonable likelihood of being unpatentable based on the asserted prior art.
• Final Written Decision: Not yet issued. The statutory deadline for a Final Written Decision in an IPR is typically one year from the date of institution.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable, as the proceeding is ongoing.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as no Final Written Decision has been issued.
• Defensive value: This active IPR means that the patentability of certain claims of US12268475 is currently under scrutiny. If these claims are central to an infringement theory, their potential invalidation could significantly weaken the patent owner's position. A defendant should closely monitor the progress and outcome of this IPR.

Strategic summary

As of today, May 21, 2026, US Patent 12268475 has faced two AIA trial challenges. The first, PGR2025-00063, was denied institution, meaning the PTAB did not find sufficient grounds to proceed with a post-grant review. This strengthens the patent owner's position against that specific challenge, as all claims that were targeted in that petition remain intact.

However, the second proceeding, IPR2025-01254, has been instituted, indicating that the PTAB found a reasonable likelihood that at least some of the challenged claims are unpatentable. This IPR is currently in the trial phase. Without the institution decision, it's impossible to identify which specific claims were challenged and subsequently instituted for review. Therefore, it is currently unknown which claims of 12268475 are CANCELED vs. SUSTAINED vs. UNTESTED.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, for SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. (and its privies) who filed the PGR and IPR, collateral estoppel under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(1) and (2) will apply to any grounds they raised or reasonably could have raised in the instituted IPR once a Final Written Decision is issued. For other potential defendants, the prior art grounds remain available unless they are in privy with Samsung. The fact that Samsung filed both a PGR and an IPR suggests a determined effort to challenge the patent.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant facing assertion of US12268475:

1. Monitor IPR2025-01254 Closely: Since IPR2025-01254 is in the trial stage, its outcome will be crucial. The statutory deadline for the Final Written Decision is typically one year from the institution date (which would be around August 2026, given the petition filing date). Obtain the institution decision for IPR2025-01254 to identify the specific claims and prior art grounds that are being challenged. This information is critical for assessing the potential impact on any asserted claims. You can search for the institution decision on the USPTO PTAB End-to-End system by using the proceeding number IPR2025-01254.
2. Review PGR2025-00063 Denial Reasoning: While institution for PGR2025-00063 was denied, understanding the PTAB's reasoning for the discretionary denial can provide insights into potential weaknesses in challenging the patent via PGR. It's important to understand if the denial was based on the merits of the prior art presented or on procedural/discretionary grounds. The decision can be found on the USPTO PTAB End-to-End system.
3. Conduct a thorough prior art search: Regardless of the ongoing IPR, conduct an independent prior art search to identify any new grounds of unpatentability, especially if not in privy with Samsung, to explore potential new IPR challenges.

Inventors

The sole named inventor is Mohammed N. Islam. At the time of the application filing and the assignment of interest, Mohammed N. Islam was the founder and Chief Technology Officer of Omni Medsci Inc., and also a tenured Professor of Optics and Photonics, and Biomedical Engineering, at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering.

Original assignee

Name: Omni Medsci Inc.
Product embodying the claims: Omni Medsci Inc. does not appear to ship products embodying the claims of US122684475. Instead, the company is primarily involved in patent assertion.
Primary line of business: Patent assertion and licensing, focused on optical technology related to medical devices, as developed by Mohammed N. Islam.
Current status: Operating, with ongoing patent litigation as of early 2025.

Assignment timeline

• 2024-10-25 (executed) / recorded 2025-02-20 — Reel 006423/0488
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: ISLAM, MOHAMMED N.
  • Assignee: OMNI MEDSCI, INC.
  • Correspondent: LAW OFFICE OF LING ZHANG, 1999 S BASCOM AVE STE 700, CAMPBELL, CA 95008. This correspondent recurs in other patents by entities associated with Mohammed N. Islam.
  • Context: Transfer of inventor's interest to the company (original assignee).

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 12268475
    2024 : Application filed
    2024 : Inventor assigned to Omni Medsci Inc
    2025 : Issued

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. The only recorded assignment is from the inventor, Mohammed N. Islam, to Omni Medsci Inc. (Reel 006423/0488). This is a standard initial assignment, not a transfer from an operating company to a shell entity.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. Omni Medsci Inc. is identified as a patent asserter. It has filed infringement complaints against companies like Fossil, OnePlus, Oura Health, and Samsung, concerning wearable devices that measure physiological parameters.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. There is only one assignment in this patent's chain, from the inventor to Omni Medsci Inc. The correspondent, LAW OFFICE OF LING ZHANG (Reel 006423/0488), is noted as recurring in other patent chains associated with Mohammed N. Islam and related entities. However, without multiple assignments within this specific chain, this signal cannot be definitively marked as "present" based on the "across the chain" criterion.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. There is only one assignment recorded for this patent.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present. The assignment from the inventor to Omni Medsci Inc. occurred on 2024-10-25, before the patent was granted on 2025-04-08. Any litigation specifically naming US12268475 would occur after its issuance. The related litigation mentioned for Omni Medsci Inc. involving other patents in 2024 does not involve this patent's pre-grant assignment.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy for Omni Medsci Inc.
7. Privateering — Unclear. While Omni Medsci Inc. is an active patent asserter, there is no explicit evidence in the provided information to suggest that the patent was transferred to Omni Medsci Inc. by an operating company for the purpose of asserting it on their behalf against competitors. The transfer was directly from the inventor.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The patent is currently held by Omni Medsci Inc., an asserting entity.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

Justification: The current assignee, Omni Medsci Inc. (Reel 006423/0488, recorded 2025-02-20), is a known patent assertion entity that actively files infringement lawsuits against technology companies regarding wearable devices and other related technologies. This demonstrates a clear pattern of patent monetization through litigation rather than product commercialization, satisfying the "Known asserter in the chain" signal.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html (search for patent number 12268475).

Patent Analysis of US12268475: Identifying Most Relevant Prior Art

For US Patent 12268475B2, titled "Wearable device for differential measurement on pulse rate and blood flow," the most relevant cited prior art, based on the earliest effective filing date and extensive disclosure of related subject matter by the same inventor and assignee, is US9164032B2.

Analysis of US9164032B2

• Full Citation: US9164032B2, "Non-invasive blood constituent measurement using light," invented by Mohammed N. Islam, assigned to Omni Medsci Inc.

• Publication/Filing Date:

  • Filing Date: December 17, 2013
  • Publication Date (Grant Date): October 20, 2015
  • Priority Date: December 31, 2012 (based on provisional application No. 61/747,569)
    (Note: The priority date of US12268475B2 is also December 31, 2012. This indicates that US9164032B2 and US12268475B2 likely stem from the same original disclosure and are part of the same patent family. While this impacts a strict "prior art" determination under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for independent inventions, for the purpose of this analysis as requested, its disclosures are examined.)

• Brief Description:
  US9164032B2 describes a system and method for non-invasive measurement of blood constituents using light. The system includes a light source (which can be a super-continuum source, laser diodes, or light-emitting diodes (LEDs)), a human interface configured to be placed on a user's body part, and a detector. A processor analyzes the detector's output to measure various blood constituents (e.g., glucose, HbA1c, ketone bodies) and other physiological parameters like heart rate and oxygen saturation. The patent emphasizes techniques for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement, including differential measurements, ambient light subtraction, and increasing light source power. It also describes determining if the human interface is properly worn by the user.

• Claims Potentially Anticipated Under 35 U.S.C. § 102:
  Despite the shared priority date, US9164032B2 discloses elements corresponding to the independent claims (1, 4, and 8) and their dependent claims of US12268475B2, as detailed below:

  • Claim 1 (Apparatus for differential measurement):

    • "apparatus adapted to be worn by a user": US9164032B2 describes a "human interface" for placement on a user's body part (e.g., finger, hand, wrist) and mentions "wearable components."
    • "plurality of biosensors": US9164032B2 discusses a system configurable with "multiple input ports for various types of sensors," implying a plurality of biosensors.
    • "measuring of the one or more physiological parameters comprises a differential measurement, and wherein the one or more physiological parameters comprises a pulse rate monitoring and a blood flow measurement": US9164032B2 explicitly mentions "differential measurement" for compensation (e.g., for skin interference, common mode noise) and states the system can measure "heart rate and oxygen saturation" (heart rate being equivalent to pulse rate, and blood flow being related to these measurements).
    • "light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes that are configured to generate an output optical light having one or more optical wavelengths": US9164032B2 lists "light emitting diodes" as a possible light source and mentions a "plurality of light sources."
    • "one or more lenses configured to receive at least a portion of the output optical light and to deliver a lens output light to tissue comprising skin": US9164032B2 refers to "lens system" for light delivery.
    • "detection system configured to receive at least a portion of the lens output light reflected from the tissue and to generate an output signal is indicative of the one or more physiological parameters that has a signal-to-noise ratio": US9164032B2 details a "detector" that "detects light from the human interface" (including reflected light) and mentions improving SNR.
    • "detection system is configured to be synchronized to the light source": US9164032B2 describes modulating the light source and using a lock-in amplifier or band-pass filter, which implies synchronization.
    • "comprises a plurality of detectors that are spatially separated from each other": US9164032B2 mentions "plurality of detectors, for example, to sample different locations on the body."
    • "at least one analog to digital converter is coupled to at least one of the plurality of detectors": US9164032B2 states that data from the detector is "digitized using an analog-to-digital converter."
    • "apparatus is configured to increase the signal-to-noise ratio by increasing light intensity of at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes from an initial light intensity": US9164032B2 teaches that "Higher optical power densities may be used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio."

  • Claim 2 (Ambient light subtraction for SNR improvement):

    • US9164032B2 explicitly describes increasing SNR by using "two measurements: one with the light source on and one with the light source off. By subtracting the two measurements, the ambient light can be eliminated." This directly anticipates the method of comparing signals with LEDs off and on.

  • Claim 3 (Determining if device is worn):

    • US9164032B2 states, "the system can determine that the human interface is being worn or is in contact with the user, before taking measurements. The system can check if sufficient optical signal is being collected or if the signal matches characteristics of a human body." This anticipates determining if the device is worn.

  • Claim 4 (Wearable device with processor for SNR and worn detection):

    • This claim combines the "wearable device" aspect with the processor-controlled steps of ambient light subtraction and worn detection, all of which are disclosed in US9164032B2.

  • Claim 8 (System for device worn by user, with SNR increase by intensity):

    • This claim aligns closely with the elements discussed for Claim 1, including the light source, lenses, detection system, synchronization, spatially separated detectors, ADC, and the method of increasing SNR by increasing light intensity.

Given the comprehensive overlap in technical disclosure and the common priority date, US9164032B2 is highly relevant as it details the foundational technology upon which US12268475B2 is built.

For a patent to be granted, an invention must be non-obvious. This means that the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art must be such that the claimed invention as a whole would not have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made. The analysis of obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103 considers the scope and content of the prior art, the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue, the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, and secondary considerations of non-obviousness.

US Patent 12268475, titled "Wearable device for differential measurement on pulse rate and blood flow," describes a wearable device with a light source (comprising LEDs), one or more lenses, and a detection system. The device is configured to measure physiological parameters (pulse rate, blood flow) using differential measurements, and to increase the signal-to-noise ratio by increasing light intensity and/or comparing signals when the light source is on versus off. The patent also describes determining if the device is being worn by the user based on the output signal.

A Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art (POSITA) in this field would likely have a background in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline, with experience in optical sensing, wearable devices, and signal processing for physiological measurements.

To assess the obviousness of US patent 12268475, we need to consider combinations of prior art that would lead a POSITA to the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success. Without specific prior art references explicitly detailing all the features of US12268475 in combination, it's challenging to provide definitive obviousness rejections. However, based on the definitions and context provided within US12268475, we can identify general areas of prior art that a POSITA would be familiar with and motivated to combine.

Potential Combinations of Prior Art for Obviousness:

Combination 1: Wearable Optical Sensors for Physiological Monitoring + Signal-to-Noise Ratio Improvement Techniques

• Prior Art Elements:

  • Wearable optical sensors for physiological monitoring: The patent itself defines an "apparatus adapted to be worn by a user" and "one or more biosensors adapted to be placed on the user, wherein one or more physiological parameters are measured." The patent mentions common applications like pulse rate monitoring and blood flow measurement. Prior art in wearable pulse oximeters, heart rate monitors, and other optical physiological sensors would be highly relevant. These devices commonly use light sources (e.g., LEDs) and detectors to measure blood flow and pulse rate through tissue (e.g., skin).
  • Techniques for improving signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in optical measurements: The patent explicitly discusses increasing SNR by "increasing light intensity of at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes from an initial light intensity" and by "comparing the first signal and the second signal" (light source off vs. on). These are well-known techniques in optical sensing to mitigate ambient light interference and improve measurement accuracy.
    • Light intensity adjustment: A POSITA would be aware that increasing light intensity generally leads to a stronger signal and thus a better SNR, especially in challenging measurement environments like biological tissue.
    • Differential measurement (light on/off): Subtracting a background measurement (light source off) from a measurement with the light source on is a standard practice to remove baseline noise and ambient light contributions in many optical sensing applications.

• Motivation for Combination: A POSITA developing a wearable device for physiological monitoring would be highly motivated to combine these elements to create a more robust and accurate device. The primary challenges in wearable optical sensing often revolve around motion artifacts and low signal-to-noise ratios due to skin absorption and ambient light. Therefore, the combination of a wearable optical sensor with known techniques to improve SNR (like intensity adjustment and light on/off differential measurements) would be an obvious design choice to enhance performance and reliability for accurate physiological parameter measurement.

Combination 2: Wearable Devices with Biosensors + User Detection Mechanisms

• Prior Art Elements:

  • Wearable devices with biosensors: As above, the concept of wearable devices incorporating biosensors to measure physiological parameters is well-established in the prior art, especially in fitness trackers and health monitors.
  • User detection mechanisms in wearable devices: The patent states the apparatus is "at least in part configured to determine, based at least in part on the output signal, that the apparatus is being worn by the user." Many existing wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches, fitness bands) include mechanisms to detect proper wearing or skin contact. This can be achieved through various means, including:
    • Capacitive sensors: Detecting skin contact.
    • Optical feedback: Analyzing the received optical signal; a lack of a plausible physiological signal (e.g., pulse) or an unusual signal pattern could indicate the device is not being worn correctly or at all.
    • Accelerometer data: Detecting movement consistent with being worn on a body part.

• Motivation for Combination: For wearable health devices, it is crucial to ensure that measurements are taken accurately when the device is properly positioned on the user. A POSITA would be motivated to integrate a user detection mechanism into a wearable biosensor to prevent erroneous readings, conserve battery life (by only operating the sensors when worn), and provide a better user experience. Using the existing output signal from the optical biosensor itself to infer whether the device is being worn (e.g., by checking for expected physiological signal characteristics) would be a logical and efficient integration of functionalities.

Combination 3: Optical Spectroscopy for Blood Constituent Measurement + Fiber Optics in Medical Devices + Signal Processing for Noise Reduction

• Prior Art Elements:

  • Optical spectroscopy for blood constituent measurement: The patent extensively discusses the use of near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectroscopy for non-invasive monitoring of blood constituents like glucose, ketones, and HbA1c. This field of research is well-documented, with various techniques described (e.g., absorption spectroscopy, diffuse reflection spectroscopy).
  • Fiber optics in medical devices: The patent explicitly mentions that "Fiber optics may be conveniently used to guide the light to the patient as well as to transport the signal back to one or more detectors and receivers" in the context of caries detection apparatuses. The use of optical fibers for light delivery and collection in medical sensing applications is a known technique for flexibility, miniaturization, and remote sensing.
  • Signal processing for noise reduction in spectroscopic data: The patent refers to "Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes for noise prevention, reduction or removal," and "Details of waveform analysis characterised by using transforms using Fourier transforms." These are standard signal processing techniques employed in spectroscopy to extract meaningful information from noisy signals.

• Motivation for Combination: When designing a device for non-invasive blood constituent measurement using spectroscopy, a POSITA would naturally consider fiber optics to deliver and collect light efficiently, especially for measurements at specific body sites or for miniaturized wearable designs. Given the inherent challenges of optical measurements in biological tissues (e.g., scattering, absorption by water and other compounds), employing advanced signal processing techniques, including noise reduction and Fourier transforms for spectral analysis, would be a necessary and obvious step to obtain accurate and reliable readings from the spectroscopic data.

General Motivation for Combining:

In all these scenarios, the motivation for a POSITA to combine these prior art elements would stem from the desire to create more effective, accurate, and user-friendly wearable medical devices. The problem-solution approach often drives obviousness: if known techniques exist to solve known problems (e.g., low SNR in optical sensing, need for user compliance detection), and those techniques are applicable to the field of wearable physiological monitoring, then combining them would be considered obvious. The rapidly advancing field of wearable health technology would further motivate a POSITA to integrate existing technologies to enhance device capabilities and address practical limitations.

It is important to note that a full obviousness rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 103 would require a detailed claim-by-claim analysis against specific prior art references, demonstrating how each limitation in the claims is present in, or rendered obvious by, the combination of those references. The above provides a conceptual framework based on the general technical disclosures within US12268475.

The USPTO does not calculate patent expiration dates directly, but provides tools and guidance for their estimation.

Here's an analysis for US patent 12268475 based on the provided information:

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA)

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) can extend a patent's term to compensate for delays by the USPTO during patent prosecution. These delays include failing to issue an office action within 14 months, failing to respond to a reply or appeal within four months, or failing to issue the patent within 36 months of the filing date. Applicant delays can reduce any granted PTA.

The provided patent text for US12268475 does not explicitly state whether any Patent Term Adjustments were granted. To determine the precise PTA, one would typically need to review the patent's prosecution history (e.g., in Patent Center on the USPTO website) and refer to the Certificate of Adjustment.

Patent Term Extensions (PTE)

Patent Term Extension (PTE) is available for patents on certain human drugs, medical devices, food additives, color additives, animal drugs, and veterinary biological products. This extension aims to restore some of the patent term lost due to the time spent awaiting premarket government approval from a regulatory agency like the FDA. PTE is limited to a maximum of five years, and the total patent life with a PTE cannot exceed 14 years from the date of FDA approval.

US patent 12268475 is titled "Wearable device for differential measurement on pulse rate and blood flow," which falls under the category of medical devices. Therefore, it may be eligible for a Patent Term Extension if it meets the criteria under 35 U.S.C. § 156. However, the provided text does not indicate whether an application for PTE has been filed or granted for this specific patent.

Continuation and Divisional Applications

• Continuation Applications: A continuation application is a second application for the same invention claimed in a prior non-provisional application and filed before the patenting or abandonment of the prior application.
• Divisional Applications: A divisional application is a later application for an independent and distinct invention carved out of an earlier, broader application.

The information provided for US12268475 does not explicitly mention any continuation or divisional applications directly associated with this patent number.

Related Family Members

The Google Patents listing indicates that US12268475B2 claims priority from several earlier applications. These priority claims establish family relationships:

• PCT/US2013/075736: Priority claimed from 2013-12-17
  • Related patent: WO2014105521A1
• PCT/US2013/075700: Priority claimed from 2013-12-17
  • Related patent: WO2014105520A1
• US14/108,986: Priority claimed from 2013-12-17
  • Related patent: US9164032B2
• US14/109,007: Priority claimed from 2013-12-17
  • Related patent: US9993159B2
• US15/711,907: Priority claimed from 2017-09-21
  • Related patent: US9897584B2
• US17/514,778: Priority claimed from 2021-10-29
  • Related patent: US11564577B2

Additionally, US12268475B2 itself has an "Other version" listed:

• US20250049326A1

The priority date of US12268475B2 is December 31, 2012, based on the earliest cited priority date in the Google Patents listing. The filing date of the specific application that led to US12268475B2 is October 25, 2024.

Projected Expiration Date

For utility patents filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term generally ends 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed, or if the application claims priority to an earlier application under 35 U.S.C. §§ 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c), then 20 years from the filing date of the earliest such application. This term can be adjusted by PTA or extended by PTE.

Given:

• Earliest Priority Date: December 31, 2012
• Filing Date of US12268475: October 25, 2024
• Issue Date: April 8, 2025

The patent term for US12268475 would typically be 20 years from its earliest priority date.

Therefore, the anticipated expiration date, without considering any PTA or PTE, would be December 31, 2032. The Google Patents record also lists an "Anticipated expiration" date of 2033-12-17. This discrepancy suggests that a Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) of approximately one year was granted. The USPTO does not calculate expiration dates for patents, but provides a calculator to help estimate them.

To confirm the exact expiration date and any PTA, one would need to access the official USPTO Patent Center for US12268475 and review the patent's front page and Certificate of Adjustment. Without this information, the Google Patents "Anticipated expiration" date of 2033-12-17 provides the best available estimate.